Invasive Flathead Catfish

I know from the forum that some lakes out in the east have flatheads; that seems odd to me. Flatheads aren't native to susquehanna watershed at all.
Obviously the lower susky/skuke has excellent habitat for the flats- but how did they get there in the first place:0a36:
Did the commission actually put the in? I get the feeling most fish commissions would rather stock alligators than flats- cause of the devastating effect on panfish! Was it sportsmen clubs (don't they have to get commission approval before putting in a potentially invasive fish)...

No one has proved to me that any of the large lakes in the west have flats, so how did you guys get so lucky as to have established invasive flatheads stockingsoooh: while even fertile dams in the west- get the more ordinary channels?? I'm jealous in a way:angry:.

I'm sure that shenango and pymy (to name two large western reservoirs) have a forage base and flathead habitat to equal any of those eastern reservoirs (that Do have the flatheads).

Ive heard alot as to how the flattys showed up in the susky. The 2 Id buy the most is.. 1 or 2 getting mixed in with a bullhead stocking or, anglers illegally transporting them from western waters then releaseing them. I personally think the later. I think flathead have been around alot longer than anyone thinks. Despite being prolific breeders it would take a long time to be as established as they are. Its likely western reservoirs do have flatty populations. The more water there is the more spread out they would be. I bet not alot of people target them also.

thats how they got in Blue Marsh mistakenly put in with channel fingerlings flathead fingerlings got mixed in when they built it flood control dam I'd like to help out mother nature since they are building fish ladders are knocking out dams anyway for amaerican shad to make it from the ocean to Hamburg it would be ok if I brought some flats up from the lower end of the skuke they eventually will come up any way won't they?

[ Its likely western reservoirs do have flatty populations. The more water there is the more spread out they would be. I bet not alot of people target them also.[/quote]

I've done alot of Channel cat fishing in all the western reservoirs and know alot of people that fish them too and have never seen or heard of any Flats in western lakes. I don't believe there is any in them:sad2:. I wish there was

The Fish Commission says that they were stocked by someone who wanted flatheads in the river. To be honest, even if someone did release 5 to 10 flatheads in the river it would be mathematically impossible for 10 flatheads to find each other and reproduce at such a prolific rate.

The most logically explantion is comtaminated stocking of altheads in channel or bullhead stockings. the Fish Commission doesn't want to make it look like it was their fault.

It is scientifically proven that flatheads in non-native waters grow at faster rate than the ones in native waters due to more prey options. Take a look at the James and Potomac Rivers for bluecats. Same thing.

well i can tell you from personal expierence there are for sure flats in the keystone power dam res.north of apollo i was fishing using large shiners and caught one ther this past summer. complete accident,but quite a plesant surprise!!!

Some of the stockings here on the east coast were INTENTIONAL on the part of the state wildlife commissions. They just didn't have the forsight to see the negative impact (depending on your point of view) it would eventually have on the river ecosystems.

Some of the stockings here on the east coast were INTENTIONAL on the part of the state wildlife commissions. They just didn't have the forsight to see the negative impact (depending on your point of view) it would eventually have on the river ecosystems.

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Then they ask the Pa fisherman to kill every flathead caught one year then don't mention it at all the next what is up with that? Blacky is right they should just make them and all catfish legal gamefish and make the limit a little more reasonable 50 is a bit high in day I say 10-15 per day is plenty for a person for channels or flatheads if the person would choose to keep them face it they are in the Schuylkill River system now they are building fish ladders and knocking down dams what do they think is going to happen?They are going to spread out and comsume fish,that is what they do!I expect to catch them in my spots in 5-6 years minimum :0a32: